• The Bard Music Festival • England 2007 • United States 2007

THE BIG 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

The Bard Music Festival



THE BARD MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual BARD MUSIC FESTIVAL was of special interest to Elgarians this year as it focused in on the music of Sir Edward Elgar. Byron Adams of University of California at Riverside is the "Scholar in Residence." Dr. Adams has long been one of the leading Elgar scholars and is on the American Elgar Foundation's advisory committee.

CLICK HERE to be linked up to the BARD MUSIC FESTIVAL'S Web site. It will give you all of the particulars. With most of the composer's festivals held abroad, it is a very welcomed occurence to have one right here in the U.S.

ENGLAND
A Royal Reception was held at Clarence House with HRH The Prince of Wales hosting, and here greeting Lee and Claire Kaufman. Prince Charles has long been a patron of The Elgar Society.



ENGLAND – Worcester/Malvern/Birmingham
For five days the midlands was enthralled in a magnificent Elgar 150th Celebration.  Orchestra concerts were performed by the ENGLISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, the ROYAL LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC, the CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, and the HALLÉ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.  Along with this were chamber concerts and recitals featuring all the various instruments for with Elgar wrote music.  Receptions and banquets added to the festivities.  The Royal Family was represented and the honorary chairperson of the celebration was Dame Janet Baker, the renown  soprano who many times sung the part of the angel in “Dream of Gerontius.” 

THE U.S. – Bard Music Festival: Annandale-on-Hudson NY
The annual Bard Music Festival devoted its 6-day run this August to the Birthday Boy.  Held on the campus of Bard College, college president and maestro Leon Botstein and the AMERICA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA not only performed Elgar but also music by his contemporaries, both countrymen and those outside of England. Chamber concerts and recitals both choral and instrumental were also featured.  Byron Adams, Scholar in Residence, coordinated the program, panel discussions and pre-concert talks all of which further enriched the Festival. While two weekends were held in August, the Festival also features a third weekend in the fall.